Your feet move you through the world, help you stand up to your day, and ground you. They also need TLC to keep them soft, strong, and free of problems. Foot care is more important for people with diabetes as they have an increased risk of infections, especially in their feet. If cuts and sores get infected, the curing becomes very complicated. To avoid all these, follow foot care tips.
KEEP YOUR FEET HYDRATED
Before you retire for the day, wash your feet and dry them thoroughly. The skin on the soles of your feet does not have any oil glands. So to keep them soft, apply moisturizer, coconut oil or glycerine especially at the heels every night and pull on a pair of cotton socks before you sleep. Make sure to not apply moisturizer between the toes.
TRIM TOENAILS REGULARLY
Every couple of weeks, you must trim your toenails to keep them healthy and strong. Use proper nail clippers only; do not use scissors. To make the task easier, trim your toenails after taking a shower when they are a bit softer. Remember to push your cuticles back, too, and never cut your cuticles. Apply some cuticle oil to your toenails, wait 5 minutes and then push the cuticles back with an orangewood stick. Make sure that you do not push too hard, which can increase your risk of developing an infection. Small children and elderly people should have someone help them trim their toenails.
SOFTEN YOUR FEET
Frequent exfoliating is not just about looking good: Thickly callused skin can crack, leading to pain and infections. Pumice-based pastes can swiftly eliminate scaly skin, keeping feet soft for longer. If you prefer scrubs, go for a salt scrub with added oils to help hydrate. Avoid razors and callus scrapers, which can break the skin and cause infection. And be sure to slough gently: Calluses actually protect the feet, so you don’t want to strip them away entirely.
LET YOUR FEET BREATHE
It’s a good habit to take your shoes off after you get home, so that you can let your feet breathe. Otherwise, the sweat and dirt that build up in your shoes during the day- yes, your feet sweat, even if you always wear cotton socks- will continue to wear on your feet after hours. In the winter, you can also put on a fresh pair of cotton socks or slippers, especially, if you wash and lotion your feet beforehand, as the socks help lock in moisture. If you allow dirt and sweat to stay on your feet longer than necessary, you’re creating a breeding ground for athlete’s foot and other diseases.
LIGHTEN DARK SKIN
Lemon is a natural bleaching agent that will help lighten dark skin. Massage your dark feet with lemon juice for a few minutes and wash it off with cold water. You can also mix a teaspoon of honey with lemon juice and use it to massage your feet every day before shower.
POLISH FREE NAILS
Over time, nail polish can wear down your nails. Before reapplying new polish, be sure to remove all of the old layers. If you can, let your toenails go polish-free for few hours and then, apply a polish that helps strengthen your nails.
GET SUPPORT
Standing for a long time can make your feet sore. Wearing insoles can help make shoes more comfortable. Look for insoles that have a plastic shell at the bottom. Podiatrists say the shell makes them strong enough to provide real support.
SOAK FOR SMOOTHER FEET
Soak feet in a mixture of water, six drops of tea-tree oil, and epsom salt. Submerge your feet, remove from water, then rub vigorously with a towel. While all soaks help soften skin, certain ones also exfoliate dead skin cells, making feet smoother.
MASSAGE FOR HEALTHY FEET
Regular foot massages are one of the easiest ways to keep your feet healthy and free from all kinds of foot problems. A few minutes of foot massage daily provides other benefits too, such as: Improving blood circulation to your legs, Helping you relax after a long, tiring day, Promoting sound sleep, Making your ankles strong and flexible, Relieving pain and inflammation, Reducing discomfort associated with burning feet sensation. Spend just 5 minutes out of your busy schedule to massage your feet daily. Use warm olive or coconut oil. While massaging, use your thumbs to press into the soles of your feet in a circular kneading pattern. Also, gently pull your toes back and forth one by one to stretch them out and ease tightness and soreness. You can also use a foot roller for your foot massages.